Irish Hedge School


An Irish Hedge School

On reaching the houses, Eugene stopped us in front of
one, the roof of which had fallen in.- This is all that remains
of our village school. Here,in his noisy mansion,sat Phil Sulivan,
wielding his birch as if it had been a sceptre, while his little
subjects were ranged round on benches formed of sods, that you
may still see along the wall.
The door was formed of stakes interlaced with wattles, a loop of
which thrown over a crooked nail,served the purpose of a lock,
and a rude table, that the master sat at, was all the desk
in the school.
As they came in at the door, urchins were obliged to make
their best bow, by drawing back the left leg, catching the
tuft of hair that hung over the forehead,and bringing their
stiff necks to the precise mathematical curve that constituted
politeness; whil Phil sat in the middle, sometimes talking English,
sometimes Irish,to suit himself to the comprehension of his pupils.


From "Scenes and Sketches of a Soldiers Life in Ireland.
and later: newspaper titled the Launceston Advertiser.Dec 1830

note by editor: This is a newspaper article,and should only be
used as a general reference. Original sources should always
be accessed for family history purposes and information authenticated.
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©J.Fawcett.2000

Further Links  -
 with special thanks to Peter Mayberry - Irish Convicts

The Hedge School - part one

The Hedge School - part two

Killeshandra Schools

Hedgemaster School Songs

Education - pre Famine

Archaelogical Sites

Labasheeda School History

Old Schools in Calry Parish

Education in Ireland